Welcome to the Bank Street Children's Book Committee's (CBC) Searchable Best Books List, a tool designed to help educators, families, librarians, and others access developmentally appropriate and engaging books for young readers (ages birth - 18).
Our online Searchable Best Books List draws from the committee's annual Best Children's Books of the Year-beginning with the list of books published in 2000-with each featuring more than 600 high-quality titles for young readers.
To share feedback about the tool, please feel free to email bookcom@bankstreet.edu. To learn more about the CBC, visit https://www.bankstreet.edu/cbc/.
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Milloo's Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women's Education
Reem Faruqi
Illustrator: Hoda Hadadi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In India in the 1930s, a young girl pursued her love of learning, and then founded schools for girls in Pakistan after the 1947 Partition. Vibrant collages. Glossary, author's note.
Reem Faruqi
Illustrator: Hoda Hadadi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In India in the 1930s, a young girl pursued her love of learning, and then founded schools for girls in Pakistan after the 1947 Partition. Vibrant collages. Glossary, author's note.
Mina Belongs Here
Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert
Illustrator: Lars Baus
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A girl starts kindergarten in a new country and slowly adapts, learning the language, making friends, and helping other children. Monochrome illustrations change to bright colors as the protagonist's sense of belonging grows.
Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert
Illustrator: Lars Baus
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A girl starts kindergarten in a new country and slowly adapts, learning the language, making friends, and helping other children. Monochrome illustrations change to bright colors as the protagonist's sense of belonging grows.
Moon Is a Ball, The: Stories of Panda & Squirrel
Ed Franck
Illustrator: Thé Tjong-Khing
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Nine interlinked contemplative tales show the multifaceted nature of a deep and lasting friendship. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
Ed Franck
Illustrator: Thé Tjong-Khing
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Nine interlinked contemplative tales show the multifaceted nature of a deep and lasting friendship. Watercolor and ink illustrations.
Moon's Ramadan
Natasha Khan Kazi
Illustrator: Natasha Khan Kazi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The cycle of the moon during the Islamic month of fasting is interwoven with Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr customs in many countries. Intensely colored mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Natasha Khan Kazi
Illustrator: Natasha Khan Kazi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The cycle of the moon during the Islamic month of fasting is interwoven with Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr customs in many countries. Intensely colored mixed-media illustrations. Back matter.
Moon Tonight, The: Our Moon's Journey around Earth
Jung Chang-hoon
Illustrator: Jang Ho
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A father and daughter observe the waxing and waning of the Moon on its 29-day journey around Earth. Full-color illustrations.
Jung Chang-hoon
Illustrator: Jang Ho
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A father and daughter observe the waxing and waning of the Moon on its 29-day journey around Earth. Full-color illustrations.
More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean
Roz MacLean
Illustrator: Roz MacLean
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Glowing illustrations accompany limited text, celebrating myriad ways of communicating: words, gestures, art, music, collaboration, listening, acts of friendship, and more.
Roz MacLean
Illustrator: Roz MacLean
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Glowing illustrations accompany limited text, celebrating myriad ways of communicating: words, gestures, art, music, collaboration, listening, acts of friendship, and more.
Most Important Animal of All, The
Penny Worms
Illustrator: Hannah Bailey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
At the end of the school year, children share their research on seven important animals. Detailed color illustrations. Back matter includes additional information, glossary, and index.
Penny Worms
Illustrator: Hannah Bailey
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
At the end of the school year, children share their research on seven important animals. Detailed color illustrations. Back matter includes additional information, glossary, and index.
My Powerful Hair
Carole Lindstrom
Illustrator: Steph Littlebird
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A Native American child shares the importance of growing hair long in her culture. Spare text and vibrant pencil artwork. Back matter.
Carole Lindstrom
Illustrator: Steph Littlebird
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A Native American child shares the importance of growing hair long in her culture. Spare text and vibrant pencil artwork. Back matter.
My Strange Shrinking Parents
Zeno Sworder
Illustrator: Zeno Sworder
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A symbolic representation of the sacrifices that Chinese immigrant parents make to give their child clothes, books, and an education, until the child grows up and takes care of them. Dreamlike woodblock-inspired illustrations.
Zeno Sworder
Illustrator: Zeno Sworder
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
A symbolic representation of the sacrifices that Chinese immigrant parents make to give their child clothes, books, and an education, until the child grows up and takes care of them. Dreamlike woodblock-inspired illustrations.
Nat the Cat Takes a Nap (Nat the Cat series/Ready-to-Read series)
Jarrett Lerner
Illustrator: Jarret Lerner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Sleepy Nat really wants to take a nap but keeps getting interrupted. Simple rhyming text. Colorful cartoon illustrations.
Jarrett Lerner
Illustrator: Jarret Lerner
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Sleepy Nat really wants to take a nap but keeps getting interrupted. Simple rhyming text. Colorful cartoon illustrations.
Nature Is a Sculptor: Weathering and Erosion
Heather Ferranti Kinser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Water, ice, and wind etch shapes and carve land into natural forms of beauty. Poetic text and stunning photographs. Back matter.
Heather Ferranti Kinser
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Water, ice, and wind etch shapes and carve land into natural forms of beauty. Poetic text and stunning photographs. Back matter.
Never Forget Eleanor
Jason June
Illustrator: Loren Long
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Elijah, an anthropomorphized elephant, loves his grandmother, her stories, and her cleverness with language. When she starts to be forgetful, he helps her create pathways for her words. Gouache illustrations.
Jason June
Illustrator: Loren Long
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Elijah, an anthropomorphized elephant, loves his grandmother, her stories, and her cleverness with language. When she starts to be forgetful, he helps her create pathways for her words. Gouache illustrations.
Night before Freedom, The: A Juneteenth Story
Glenda Armand
Illustrator: Corey Barksdale
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Vibrant and imaginative illustrations depict this historical view of Juneteenth through the words of "Grandma's Story" about anticipation, emancipation, and jubilation, which has been retold across generations.
Glenda Armand
Illustrator: Corey Barksdale
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Vibrant and imaginative illustrations depict this historical view of Juneteenth through the words of "Grandma's Story" about anticipation, emancipation, and jubilation, which has been retold across generations.
Nomads: Life on the Move
Kinchoi Lam
Illustrator: Kinchoi Lam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Copious colorful detailed illustrations and informative text depict how seven tribes in seven different environments create the culture, objects, and shelters needed for nomadic life. Back matter.
Kinchoi Lam
Illustrator: Kinchoi Lam
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Copious colorful detailed illustrations and informative text depict how seven tribes in seven different environments create the culture, objects, and shelters needed for nomadic life. Back matter.
North Wind & the Sun, The
Philip Stead
Illustrator: Philip Stead
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When three elderly sisters take a walk, the cold North Wind and the warm Sun compete to take their coats away. Who will win this tug-of-war? Textured color pencil illustrations.
Philip Stead
Illustrator: Philip Stead
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When three elderly sisters take a walk, the cold North Wind and the warm Sun compete to take their coats away. Who will win this tug-of-war? Textured color pencil illustrations.
Obioma Plays Football
Chika Unigwe
Illustrator: Chinyere Okoroafor
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In Nigeria, mischievous young Obioma loves to play football (soccer) in her wheelchair. A move to the city is lonely. Can a new friend help her shine again? Bold, colorful drawings.
Chika Unigwe
Illustrator: Chinyere Okoroafor
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
In Nigeria, mischievous young Obioma loves to play football (soccer) in her wheelchair. A move to the city is lonely. Can a new friend help her shine again? Bold, colorful drawings.
One Chicken Nugget
Tadgh Bentley
Illustrator: Tadgh Bentley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Celeste cooks up a scheme to rid herself of a monster whose insatiable appetite for chicken nuggets threatens Celeste's business. Animated mixed-media illustrations. Author's note.
Tadgh Bentley
Illustrator: Tadgh Bentley
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Celeste cooks up a scheme to rid herself of a monster whose insatiable appetite for chicken nuggets threatens Celeste's business. Animated mixed-media illustrations. Author's note.
Only Only Marisol Rainey (Maybe Marisol series)
Erin Entrada Kelly
Illustrator: Erin Entrada Kelly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Filipina American Marisol is afraid of the big dog that just escaped from his backyard, and wonders what she should do if she sees him. Black-and-white illustrations.
Erin Entrada Kelly
Illustrator: Erin Entrada Kelly
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Filipina American Marisol is afraid of the big dog that just escaped from his backyard, and wonders what she should do if she sees him. Black-and-white illustrations.
Oslo Learns to Swim (Rex & Oslo series/Ready-to-Read series)
Doug Cushman
Illustrator: Doug Cushman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Simple balloon text captures the humor and trust when two friends go swimming. Colorful digital art.
Doug Cushman
Illustrator: Doug Cushman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Simple balloon text captures the humor and trust when two friends go swimming. Colorful digital art.
Other Words for Nonno
Dave Cameron
Illustrator: Yong Ling Kang
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When Jill notices her grandfather's growing silences and repetitions during their weekly word game, she finds an ingenious way to help him. Watercolors in a muted palette.
Dave Cameron
Illustrator: Yong Ling Kang
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
When Jill notices her grandfather's growing silences and repetitions during their weekly word game, she finds an ingenious way to help him. Watercolors in a muted palette.
Our Pool
Lucy Ruth Cummins
Illustrator: Lucy Ruth Cummins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
On a hot summer day, the narrator and their mom head to the local city pool to cool off , along with the whole neighborhood. Gouache and color pencil illustrations.
Lucy Ruth Cummins
Illustrator: Lucy Ruth Cummins
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
On a hot summer day, the narrator and their mom head to the local city pool to cool off , along with the whole neighborhood. Gouache and color pencil illustrations.
Our Roof Is Blue
Sara E. Echenique
Illustrator: Ashley Vargas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
After a hurricane in Puerto Rico blows the roof off the family house, Antonio stops speaking. Can his older sister help restore his voice? Digital illustrations. Back matter.
Sara E. Echenique
Illustrator: Ashley Vargas
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
After a hurricane in Puerto Rico blows the roof off the family house, Antonio stops speaking. Can his older sister help restore his voice? Digital illustrations. Back matter.
Outside Amelia's Window
Caroline Nastro
Illustrator: Anca Sandu Budisan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Amelia. a shy wheelchair user, is reluctant to play with her new neighbors, until she finds inspiration from a family of birds. Soft, dreamy illustrations in pencil and watercolors.
Caroline Nastro
Illustrator: Anca Sandu Budisan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Amelia. a shy wheelchair user, is reluctant to play with her new neighbors, until she finds inspiration from a family of birds. Soft, dreamy illustrations in pencil and watercolors.
Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock
Jesús Trejo
Illustrator: Eliza Kinkz
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Mexican American Jesús doesn't realize that the jug of water that he and his gardener father take with them must last their entire working day. Vivid, detailed mixed-media illustrations. Also available in Spanish.
Jesús Trejo
Illustrator: Eliza Kinkz
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
Mexican American Jesús doesn't realize that the jug of water that he and his gardener father take with them must last their entire working day. Vivid, detailed mixed-media illustrations. Also available in Spanish.
Paul Bunyan: The Invention of an American Legend
Noah Van Sciver, with additional stories and art by Marlena Myles, introduction by Lee Francis IV, postscript by Deondre Smiles
Illustrator: Noah Van Sciver
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The legend of a lumberjack whose enormous strength could alter landscapes is revisited, showing how forests and Indigenous peoples are devastated for profit. Dramatic graphics. Back matter.
Noah Van Sciver, with additional stories and art by Marlena Myles, introduction by Lee Francis IV, postscript by Deondre Smiles
Illustrator: Noah Van Sciver
Ages: 6+
Published: 2023
The legend of a lumberjack whose enormous strength could alter landscapes is revisited, showing how forests and Indigenous peoples are devastated for profit. Dramatic graphics. Back matter.